Structural Model of Psychosocial Adjustment for Cancer Patients in Korea

Abstract

In this study, the structural model was described and validated to understand the degree of psychosocial adjustmentof cancer patients and to estimate the factors that affect psychosocial adjustment directly and indirectly based on Kims theory which combined with Roys adjustment theory and proposition of stress-evaluation-countermeasure by Lazarus and Folkman.The data collection was performed through self-reported survey form from November 20, 2016 to February 10, 2017, and 200 data were analyzed out of 220. Data analysis was performed with SPSS Win 23.0 by descriptive analysis per demography and study variables. Statistically significant variables on psychosocial adjustment were symptom experience and uncertainty, demonstrating 41.0% explanatory power of psychosocial adjustmentin the cancer patients by these variables. In conclusion, symptom experience and uncertainty were found to be the crucial factors affecting the psychosocial adjustment of cancer patients.Using these results, it should be prepared to develop symptom relieving programs, objective treatment directions, potential symptoms and nursing interventional program on the information to lower the experiences of symptoms. To lower the uncertainty, it should be prepared to develop the programs of psychosocial adjustment by self-support meeting of the cancer patients who were in common to have counseling and treatments on the progression and treatment plans after diagnosis of cancer.